Improvement in registering ballot-boxes



L. VAN ALSTYNE. REGISTERING BALLOT-BOXES.

N. 194 881 Patented Sept; 4,1877.

N. PFTERS PHOTG-UTHOERAPHER, WASHINGTON. r) C.

UNITED STATES PATENT QEEIGE.

LAWRENCE VAN ALSTYNE, OF SHARON, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN REGISTERING BALLOT-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 194,882, dated September 4, 1877 application filed 3 February 20, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE VAN AL- sTYNE, of Sharon, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Registering Ballot-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure l, a perspective view; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section; Fig. 3, a horizontal plan, and in Fig. 4, a detached'view.

This invention relates to a device for registering the number of ballots which may be passed into a ballot-box; and it consists in the mechanism producing such registration, as more fully hereinafter described, and recited in the claim.

A represents the base of the apparatus, which is practically the top of the ballot-box, provided with an aperture, B, through which the ballots are introduced to the box below. A thin slide, a, is arranged to out 011' or close this aperture B. This slide is connected to an arm, C, which extends back into connection with the lever D, so that by forcing the lever forward, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 2, the slide a will be drawn back to open the aperture B, and when the lever is released the spring E serves to force the slide back and close the aperture.

The mechanism is inclosed by a case, F. Within this, on a roll, b, a flexible strip, d, is wound, and, passing over a roll, 6, is attached to a roll, f, on the end of which is a ratchet,

h. The roll 0 is arranged before an aperture, H, in the case, so that the surface of the strip passing the roll is exposed at said aperture. This aperture is protected by a glass covering or otherwise. On the arm 0 a springpawl, 1, is arranged, as seen in Fig. 2, so that when the slide is drawn back it will pass freely over the teeth of the ratchet but when the slide is returned it will impart to the roll f, through the ratchet h, a partial rotation, and wind onto the roll f a portion of the strip 11. On that side of the strip d which is exposed to the aperture H a series of marks or of the roll f will present the next succeeding 1 mark or figure to the aperture H hence, when the slide is withdrawn by the box-tender to I introduce the ballot, the closing of the aperture after such depositing will register one, i and, s0 continuing, each successive opening for depositing a ballot will be registered by the strip d.

In order to sound an alarm when the slide is withdrawn, so as to prevent fraudulent opening of the box, and corresponding fraudulent register, a bell, L, indicated in broken lines, Figs. 2 and 3, is arranged within the case, and a hammer, P, arranged to strike that bell as the slide is drawn back, the hammer indicated also in broken lines, Fig. 2, a projection, 11, on the slide serving that purpose.

The strip at is wound onto the roll 12' by the introduction of a key through a key-hole, m,

so as to be set for each new use of the box.

To lock the box when the balloting ceases,

or when it may be required, a lock, R, is arranged upon the case, with the key-hole S opening outward, and so that the bolt T will shoot downward into a cavity, 7', in the base, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, and directly in rear of an arm, t, projecting from the slide C. This will prevent the slide being drawn back.

To cover the winding key-hole m a plate, g l, on one arm of a lever is hung upon a sta- I tionary fulcrum, 0, and attached to the bolt above the look, as at 20, (see Fig. 4,) so that when the bolt is thrown down to lock the slide C it at the same time brings the plate I over the key-hole, as seen in Fig. 4, thus securely locking the box to prevent tampering I either with the box or the register.

I claim The combination ofthe aperture in the base,

the slide for closing said aperture, lever and spring for operating said slide, a recordingstrip intermittingly moved by the movement T of the said slide, with a lock which simultaueously locks the slide and covers the key-hole g for winding the strip, substantially as specified. E

LAWRENCE VAN ALSTYN E. Witnesses:

W. G. DUMEY, I. N. BARTEAM. 

